Display control apparatus, display control method, display control program

ABSTRACT

There is provided a technique to contribute to an improvement in convenience of a setting screen for performing setting for a function capable of being executed by an image processing apparatus. A display control apparatus causes plural setting screens to be selectively displayed, which are respectively for performing settings for plural functions capable of being executed by the image processing apparatus and on each of which plural setting items for each of the functions can be displayed, and includes a selection function determination unit to determine that a setting screen for which function among the plural functions has been selected, an item information acquisition unit to acquire information relating to, among the plural setting items relating to the function whose setting screen is determined to have been selected by the selection function determination unit, a setting item to be displayed on the setting screen for the function, and a control unit to display, based on the information acquired by the item information acquisition unit and on the setting screen for the function whose setting screen is determined to have been selected by the selection function determination unit, the setting item to be displayed on the setting screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/753,618filed May 25, 2007, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display technique of a setting screenfor performing setting for a function capable of being executed by animage processing apparatus, and particularly to a technique tocontribute to an improvement in convenience of a setting screen.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hitherto, in an image processing apparatus having a printer function anda fax function, a printer driver screen and a fax driver screen(hereinafter referred to as a setting screen) are used as settingscreens for performing a print processing and a faxtransmission-reception processing.

In the setting screen as stated above, various settings relating to theprint processing, the fax transmission-reception processing or the likecan be performed, and the number of setting items is generally verylarge.

In a general usual setting screen, although plural setting items arelisted on one screen, from the restriction of a display area of thescreen, it is difficult to list all of the many setting items on onescreen. Besides, when the image processing apparatus is usually used, arelatively simple operation is performed in most cases, and there is alow possibility of using a setting item whose use frequency isstatistically low or a setting item which requires a very high degree ofknowledge.

Then, on an usual setting screen, in view of the convenience of the userwho performs a setting operation, a hierarchical structure using a tabdisplay or the like is used, and a setting item having a low possibilityof being used is displayed in a deep hierarchy, or a button forselecting a special setting item or a pull-down menu is provided.

However, the arrangement of the setting items on the usual settingscreen is strictly based on the statistic point of view, and it can behardly said that the setting items with high use frequencies areconveniently arranged for all users.

For example, in the case where the user who frequently uses a settingitem whose use frequency is statistically low or a setting item (staple,hole punch or the like as an option) requiring a high degree ofknowledge operates the usual setting screen, an operation including manysteps, such as tab switching, menu selection and display of anotherscreen, must be frequently performed before a desired setting item isfound, and this causes the efficiency of setting work to be reduced.

Besides, on a usual setting screen, there is known a structure in whichthe specific setting content of a user is previously set as “favorite”,and similar setting content can be simply reused from the next time.However, such specific setting content can not be always reused, andthere is a problem that flexibility is lacking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention has an object to provide a technique tocontribute to an improvement in convenience of a setting screen forperforming setting for a function capable of being executed by an imageprocessing apparatus.

In order to solve the problem, a display control apparatus according toan aspect of the invention causes plural setting screens to beselectively displayed, which are respectively for performing settingsfor plural functions capable of being executed by an image processingapparatus and on each of which plural setting items for each of thefunctions can be displayed, and the display control apparatus includes aselection function determination unit to determine that a setting screenfor which function among the plural functions has been selected, an iteminformation acquisition unit to acquire information relating to, amongthe plural setting items relating to the function whose setting screenis determined to have been selected by the selection functiondetermination unit, a setting item to be displayed on the setting screenfor the function, and a control unit to display, based on theinformation acquired by the item information acquisition unit and on thesetting screen for the function whose setting screen is determined tohave been selected by the selection function determination unit, thesetting item to be displayed on the setting screen.

Besides, a display control method according to another aspect of theinvention is a display control method for a display control apparatuscausing plural setting screens to be selectively displayed, which arerespectively for performing settings for plural functions capable ofbeing executed by an image processing apparatus and on each of whichplural setting items for each of the functions can be displayed, andincludes a selection function determination step of determining that asetting screen for which function among the plural functions has beenselected, an item information acquisition step of acquiring informationrelating to, among the plural setting items relating to the functionwhose setting screen is determined to have been selected at theselection function determination step, a setting item to be displayed onthe setting screen for the function, and a control step of displaying,based on the information acquired at the item information acquisitionstep and on the setting screen for the function whose setting screen isdetermined to have been selected at the selection function determinationstep, the setting item to be displayed on the setting screen.

Besides, a display control program according to another aspect of theinvention is a display control program for causing a computer to executea display control processing in a display control apparatus causingplural setting screens to be selectively displayed, which arerespectively for performing settings for plural functions capable ofbeing executed by an image processing apparatus and on each of whichplural setting items for each of the functions can be displayed, and thedisplay control program causes the computer to execute a selectionfunction determination step of determining that a setting screen forwhich function among the plural functions has been selected, an iteminformation acquisition step of acquiring information relating to, amongthe plural setting items relating to the function whose setting screenis determined to have been selected at the selection functiondetermination step, a setting item to be displayed on the setting screenfor the function, and a control step of displaying, based on theinformation acquired at the item information acquisition step and on thesetting screen for the function whose setting screen is determined tohave been selected at the selection function determination step, thesetting item to be displayed on the setting screen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of a display control systemincluding a PC (display control apparatus) 11 according to an embodimentof the invention and an image processing apparatus 21.

FIG. 2 is an outer appearance perspective view for explaining theoutline of the image processing apparatus 21 of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for explaining the PC (displaycontrol apparatus) 11 of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a display screen of a display 11a of the PC 11.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which a portal screen P is displayedon a screen of the display 11 a.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display state of a standard print settingscreen 61 d.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a data table in which informationacquired by an item information acquisition unit 112 is stored.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a display example of setting items on a printsetting screen 71 d by a control unit 113.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a print setting screen 71 d displayed on ascreen in a case where a “my print” button 71 is selected in a statewhere a setting item to be displayed in a specified display area S isnot registered.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the print setting screen 61 d and the printsetting screen 71 d.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an operation to further add a desired settingitem as a display object.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of the print setting screen 71 dafter a registration processing of a setting item.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining setting as to whether a displayposition of each setting item displayed in the specified display area Sis updated or not.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a screen to request an operation input as towhether an unregistered setting item is to be displayed in the specifieddisplay area S or not.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a rough processing(display control method) in the display control apparatus of theembodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a new registrationprocessing of a setting item in the display control apparatus of theembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of a display control systemincluding a PC (display control apparatus) 11 according to an embodimentof the invention and an image processing apparatus 21. In the displaycontrol system shown in the drawing, the PCs (Person Computer) 11 to 1n, the image processing apparatuses 21 to 2 n, and a database 3 areconnected to be capable of communicating with each other through anelectric communication line such as a LAN 9.

Here, with respect to the PCs 11 to 1 n, the image processingapparatuses 21 to 2 n, and the database 3, although means for connectingthem to be capable of communicating with each other is the LAN, nolimitation is made to this, and the Internet, WAN or the like may beused (incidentally, it may be wired or wireless). The PC11 to 1 n canperform various settings relating to image processing functions capableof being executed by the image processing apparatuses 21 to 2 n, orexecution instructions of image processing to the image processingapparatuses 21 to 2 n.

The instructions or the like to the image processing apparatuses 21 to 2n from the PCs 11 to 1 n are performed by drivers installed in the PCs11 to 1 n based on operation input using operation input units (forexample, keyboards or mice) by users who see the setting screensdisplayed on the displays 11 a to 1 na provided in the PCs 11 to 1 n.Incidentally, here, although the example is shown in which the displayand the operation input unit are individually provided, no limitation ismade to this, and for example, the functions of the display and theoperation input unit may be realized by a touch panel display.

The database 3 serves as a storage area to store various settinginformation used in the PCs 11 to 1 n and the image processingapparatuses 21 to 2 n.

FIG. 2 is an outer appearance perspective view for explaining theoutline of the image processing apparatus 21 of the embodiment. Here, anexample in which the image processing apparatus 21 is an MFP (MultiFunction Peripheral) will be described as an example.

The image processing apparatus 21 of the embodiment includes aninterface screen 211, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 212, an imagereading unit 213, a manual paper feed unit 214, paper feed cassettes215, an image formation unit 216 and an authentication processing unit217.

Hereinafter, an example of an operation of the image processingapparatus 21 of the embodiment will be described in brief. In the casewhere a copy processing (specified image processing) is performed in theimage processing apparatus 21, first, authentication processing of auser is performed in the authentication processing unit 217. Next, basedon the operation input of the user, who succeeded in the authenticationprocessing, to the interface screen 211, an original document set on theADF 212 is automatically conveyed to an original document read positionof the image reading unit 213. An image of the original documentconveyed in this way is read by the image reading unit 213. Then, by apaper feed method selected based on the operation input to the interfacescreen 211, a paper feed operation is performed through either one ofthe paper feed cassette 215 and the manual paper feed unit 214. The fedsheet is conveyed to the image formation unit (image processing unit)216 and is subjected to an image formation processing based on the imageread by the image reading unit 213, and the copy processing iscompleted.

Incidentally, the interface screen 211 is constructed of, for example, atouch panel display, and also serves as an operation input unit toreceive the operation input of the user based on the display content onthe interface screen 211.

The image processing apparatus 21 can perform specified processingsdifferent from each other, such as a “print function” in which a printprocessing is performed based on the image data acquired by the imageprocessing apparatus 21, a “fax function” in which the image data (imagedata obtained by scanning an original document or image data receivedfrom an external equipment) acquired by the image processing apparatus21 is faxed to a desired destination, a “scan function” to scan theimage of an original document, and a “box function” in which the imagedata read from the original document by the “scan function” in the imageprocessing apparatus 21 is stored in a desired storage area.Incidentally, the “scan function” and the “print function” are combinedand performed, so that copy processing can be performed.

Processing objects of the above specified processings in the imageprocessing apparatus 21 include, for example, a sheet original document,a book-form original document and image data.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for explaining the PC (displaycontrol apparatus) 11 of the embodiment. In this embodiment, the PC 11to PC 1 n have the same component portion, and the image processingapparatus 21 to 2 n also have the same component portion. Since thedisplay control system of the embodiment can be realized by one of theimage processing apparatus 21 to the image processing apparatus 2 n andone of the PC 11 to the PC 1 n, hereinafter, as one example, thefunctions of the display control system including the image processingapparatus 21 and the PC 11 will be described in detail.

The PC 11 of this embodiment causes plural setting screens (printerdriver screen, fax driver screen, scanner driver screen, etc.) to bedisplayed so as to be capable of being selected and changed, and theplural setting screens are for performing settings for plural functions(for example, print function, fax function, scan function, box function,etc.) capable of being executed by the image processing apparatus 21,and plural setting items for each of the functions can be displayed oneach of the setting screens.

Specifically, the PC 11 of the embodiment includes a selection functiondetermination unit 111, an item information acquisition unit 112, acontrol unit 113, a display object management unit 114, a frequencyinformation acquisition unit 115, a display setting informationacquisition unit 116, a setting content determination unit 117, an inputrequest unit 118, an identification information acquisition unit 119, adisplay 11 a, an operation input unit 11 b, a CPU 801, and a MEMORY 802.

Hereinafter, the operation of the PC 11 of the embodiment will bedescribed in detail.

Incidentally, in the following example, for convenience of explanation,the setting screen for the print function will be mainly described,however, it is needless to say that a similar processing can beperformed on the other functions (fax function, scan function, boxfunction) in addition to the print function.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a display screen of the display11 a of the PC 11. A “portal” icon Ip as well as various icons, such as“my computer” and “my network”, are displayed on the display 11 a.

When the user selects this “portal” icon Ip by the operation input(double click) to the operation input unit 11 b, a portal screen P asshown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen of the display 11 a. Buttons61 to 64 to open setting screens for performing usual standard functionsettings, and buttons 71 to 74 to open setting screens (my settingscreens) corresponding to the respective functions which each user cancustomize are displayed on the portal screen P.

Here, in the case where the user desires to perform, for example, theprint setting on the standard setting screen for the print function, thebutton 61 is selected by the operation input unit 11 b, so that astandard print setting screen 61 d as shown in FIG. 6 can be displayed(hereinafter, the state in which a button on the screen is selected isrepresented by enclosing it with a thick line as shown in FIG. 6).

On the other hand, in the case where the user desires to use the printsetting screen which can be customized, when the button 71 is selectedby the operation input unit 11 b, the selection function determinationunit 111 determines that based on the user's operation input to theoperation input unit 11 b, a setting screen for which function among theplural functions has been selected.

The item information acquisition unit 112 acquires, among plural settingitems (setting items concerning, for example, two-sided printing, paperdischarge method, Nin1 printing, staple processing, hole punchprocessing, etc.) which can be set for the function (here, the printfunction) whose setting screen is determined to have been selected bythe selection function determination unit 111, information relating to asetting item to be displayed on the print setting screen 71 d for thefunction from the database 3. FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of adata table in which information to be acquired by the item informationacquisition unit 112 is stored. In this embodiment, setting items whoseuse frequencies exceed a specified threshold (for example, ten times permonth) among plural setting items for plural functions capable of beingexecuted by the image processing apparatus 21 are registered, as settingitems to be displayed on the setting screens, by the display objectmanagement unit 114 into the data table (FIG. 7). Of course, thespecified threshold can be arbitrarily changed by the user as the needarises.

The identification information acquisition unit 119 acquires, based oninformation (stored in, for example, the MEMORY 802) of authenticationlog or the like at the time of login of the user in the PC 11, the username and the user ID of the user who performs the setting operation onthe setting screen. In addition, the identification informationacquisition unit 119 can acquire, based on the header information of theimage data and the information transmitted from the application,identification information to specify at least one of the file format ofimage data as the object of the image processing in the image processingapparatus 21 and the kind of an application to process the image data.As stated above, by specifying the file format of the image data and thekind of the application, it becomes possible to display the settingitems frequently used in the case where the file of the specific fileformat is treated or in the case where the specific application is used,and this can contribute to an improvement in convenience of workingenvironment.

Based on the information acquired by the item information acquisitionunit 112 and the identification information acquisition unit 119, thecontrol unit 113 displays, in a specific display area S of the settingscreen (here, the print setting screen 71 d) for the function whosesetting screen is determined to have been selected by the selectionfunction determination unit 111, the setting item (setting item to bedisplayed on the setting screen) which is made to correspond to at leastone of the user who performs the setting operation, the file format andthe application.

Specifically, the item information acquisition unit 112 here acquiresidentification information (ID etc.) of “two-sided”, “Nin1”, “staple”and “drag print” which are the setting items to be displayed on thesetting screen in the case where the user of the user ID “0001” shown inFIG. 7 selects the “print function”. FIG. 8 is a view showing a displayexample of the setting items in the print setting screen 71 d by thecontrol unit 113.

As stated above, among various setting items corresponding to the pluralfunctions of the image processing apparatus, only the setting items tobe displayed on the setting screen are selectively displayed on thesetting screen, so that the visible property of various setting items isimproved and the screen display can be performed, and it is possible toprovide the interface screen on which the setting is easy for the userto perform.

Incidentally, although the number of setting items to be displayed inthe display area S at one time can be set to a specified number bydefault, it may be arbitrarily set based on the operation input of theuser. Besides, when the size of an icon image of the setting item listedin the display area S and the size of a character indicating eachsetting item are changed according to the display number thereof (in thecase where the number of items is small, an area used for one item isincreased and the character size is made large), this can furthercontribute to an improvement in visibility of each setting item.

Besides, as stated above, with respect to different setting items to begenerally displayed in separate tabs in the printer driver or settingitems generally positioned in a deep hierarchy (for example, settingitem with generally low use frequency), one having a high use frequencyis registered as a display object on the setting screen, so that thevisibility in the setting operation and the operationality are improved.

Besides, in this embodiment, information relating to the use frequencyof each of plural setting items for plural image processing functionscapable of being executed by the image processing apparatus issequentially stored in the data table (see FIG. 7) stored in thedatabase 3, and the information relating to the use frequency isacquired from the data table by the frequency information acquisitionunit 115.

The control unit 113 displays a setting item with a high use frequencyto be positioned at least one side of the left side and the upper sidein the specified display area of the setting screen based on theinformation acquired by the frequency information acquisition unit 115(see FIG. 8).

As stated above, the setting item with the high use frequency isdisplayed at the position with high priority on the setting screen, sothat the setting item which is frequently used can be displayed at thenoticeable position, and this can contribute to the improvement inoperationability. Besides, since the display of the setting item isperformed according to the use frequency, the dynamic display of thesetting item becomes possible such that an item with a low use frequencyis moved to a lower level each time the display object is updated, andan item with a high use frequency is moved to an upper level.Incidentally, in a display area H other than the specified display areaS (for example, the upper side or left side of the specified displayarea S), inevitable setting items (sheet size, sheet direction, colormode, number of prints, etc.) previously determined as the setting itemsused on the setting screen without fail or as the setting items withvery high use frequencies are fixedly displayed on the setting screen,and setting items to be made the display objects among the setting itemsother than the inevitable setting items are displayed in the specifieddisplay area S, so that the inevitable setting items can be easilysearched at the time of setting for each function, and this cancontribute to the improvement in operationability.

Next, a procedure of registering a setting item as a display objectusing the operation input unit 11 b will be described.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a print setting screen 71 d displayed in thecase where the “my print” button 71 is selected in a state where asetting item to be displayed in the specified display area S is notregistered.

In the state of FIG. 9, when the user selects the “print” button 61 onthe portal screen P, as shown in FIG. 10, a standard print settingscreen 61 d, together with the print setting screen 71 d, is displayed.

Among the plural setting items displayed on the print setting screen 61d displayed in this way, the user drags a setting item (here, “staple”is selected), which is desires to be displayed (to be added as thesetting item of the private setting screen) on the display area S of theprint setting screen 71 d, by a mouse or the like, moves it onto thedisplay area S of the print setting screen 71 d, and drops it (see anarrow in FIG. 10).

In the case where the user desires to further add a setting item, asshown in FIG. 11, the user drags the setting item (here, “hole punch” isselected) which is desired to be added as the display object, moves itonto the display area S of the print setting screen 71 d, and drops it(see an arrow in FIG. 11).

When the desired setting item is made to be capable of being registeredas the display object in the display area S of the print setting screen71 d by performing the foregoing drag-and-drop operation, it becomespossible to customize the setting screen at a higher degree of freedom.FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of the print setting screen 71 dafter the registration processing of the setting item as stated above.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, a setting item which can be registeredas a display object in the display area S of the print setting screen 71d by the drag-and-drop operation is made such that its background coloron the print setting screen 61 d is a thin color, and a setting itemwhich can not be registered (the drag-and-drop can not be performed) ismade such that its background color is a dense color (for example, see“booklet/frame deletion” in FIG. 6). By this, the user can visuallygrasp the setting item which can be registered as the display object inthe display area S of the print setting screen 71 d.

Besides, in the embodiment, the setting item is added as the displayobject in the specified display area S of the print setting screen 71 dbased on the use frequency or the drag-and-drop operation, however, inthe case where the number of items listed in the specified display areaS is limited, it is desirable that a setting item with a high usefrequency is kept, and a setting item with a low use frequency isupdated with a setting item with a higher use frequency than the settingitem and the display is performed.

Then, in this embodiment, the user uses a menu M displayed by, forexample, right-clicking each setting item displayed in the specifieddisplay area S of the print setting screen 71 d by a mouse, and canperform setting as to whether the display position of each setting itemis updated or not (see FIG. 13). The content of the setting (displaysetting information) performed using the menu M is registered in thedata table stored in the database 3.

The display setting information acquisition unit 116 acquires displaysetting information to regulate whether a display position of whichsetting item among plural setting items to be displayed in the specifieddisplay area S of the print setting screen 71 d is fixed or not from thedata table (see FIG. 7).

Based on the display setting information acquired by the display settinginformation acquisition unit 116, with respect to a setting item, whichis set such that its display position is to be fixed, among the settingitems to be displayed in the specified display area S, the control unit113 fixes the display position of the setting item in the specifieddisplay area S.

As stated above, with respect to the setting item which is set to befixedly displayed by the display setting unit, the display position isfixedly displayed irrespective of the use frequency, so that the settingitem which is not frequently used but is desired to be always displayed(for example, the setting item important for the user, the setting itemtroublesome in search through hierarchies) can always be displayed inthe specified display area. Incidentally, the setting items to bedisplayed fixedly include, for example, a setting item set as a settingitem to be always displayed by default, and an arbitrary setting itemselected based on a mouse input of a user or the like (for example, adisplay setting menu displayed correspondingly to each setting item byright-clicking).

Besides, in the case where a setting operation concerning a desiredsetting item is performed by a user on the standard print setting screen61, based on the information acquired from the database 3 by the iteminformation acquisition unit 112, the setting content determination unit117 determines whether or not the setting has been performed withrespect to a setting item other than the setting items to be displayedin the specified display area S of the print setting screen 71 d.

In the case where the setting content determination unit 117 determinesthat the setting has been performed with respect to the setting itemother than the setting items registered to be displayed in the specifieddisplay area S of the print setting screen 71 d, the input request unit118 performs the screen display as shown in FIG. 14 by the display 11 a,and requests an operation input as to whether or not the other settingitem is to be displayed in the specified display area S (whether or notit is newly registered as the display object in the specified displayarea S).

In the case where the operation input to display the other setting itemin the specified display area S is received by the operation input unit11 b (in the case where “YES” is selected in FIG. 14), the displayobject management unit 114 registers the other setting item as thesetting item to be displayed in the specified display area S into thedata table stored in the data base 3.

As described above, since the structure is made such that varioussetting information is acquired from an external equipment such as thedatabase 3, for example, the setting content set in the PC 11 can beshared by users using the PC 12, . . . , the PC 1 n, and this cancontribute to the improvement in efficiency of the setting work.

The CPU 801 serves to perform various processings in the display controlapparatus, and also serves to realize various functions by executingprograms stored in the MEMORY 802. The MEMORY 802 includes, for example,a ROM and a RAM, and serves to store various information and programsused in the display control apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a rough processing(display control method) in the display control apparatus according tothe embodiment.

The display object management unit 114 causes setting items, the usefrequencies of which exceed a specified threshold, among plural settingitems for plural functions capable of being executed by the imageprocessing apparatus 21 to become the setting items to be displayed onthe setting screen (display object management step) (S101).

The selection function determination unit 111 determines that a settingscreen for which function among the plural functions has been selected(selection function determination step) (S102).

The item information acquisition unit 112 acquires, among plural settingitems for the function whose setting screen is determined to have beenselected at the selection function determination step, informationrelating to a setting item to be displayed on the setting screen for thefunction (item information acquisition step) (S103).

The identification information acquisition unit 119 acquiresidentification information to specify at least one of the user whoperforms the setting operation on the setting screen, the file format ofimage data as the object of the image processing in the image processingapparatus, and the kind of the application to process the image data(identification information acquisition step) (S104).

The frequency information acquisition unit 115 acquires informationrelating to the use frequency of each of the plural setting items forthe plural image processing functions capable of being executed by theimage processing apparatus (frequency information acquisition step)(S105).

The display setting information acquisition unit 116 acquires displaysetting information to regulate whether the display position of whichsetting item among plural setting items to be displayed in the specifieddisplay area is fixed or not (display setting information acquisitionstep) (S106).

Based on the information acquired at the item information acquisitionstep, the control unit 113 displays, on the setting screen for thefunction whose setting screen is determined to have been selected at theselection function determination step, the setting items to be displayedon the setting screen (control step) (S107). Besides, in the controlstep, based on the information acquired at the frequency informationacquisition step, a setting item with a high use frequency is displayedto be positioned at least one side of the left side and the upper sidein the specified display area of the setting screen.

Incidentally, in the control step, based on the display settinginformation acquired at the display setting information acquisitionstep, with respect to a setting item whose display position is set to befixed among the setting items to be displayed in the specified displayarea, the display position of the setting item in the specified displayarea can be fixed.

Besides, in the control step, it is preferable that based on theinformation acquired at the identification information acquisition step,the setting item made to correspond to one of the user who performs thesetting operation, the file format, and the application is displayed onthe setting screen, however, it is not always necessary to perform theextraction of the setting item based on the identification information.For example, in the environment in which plural users belonging to adepartment use the image processing apparatus 21, there is also a casewhere it is unnecessary to cause the setting screen to correspond toeach user. In such a case, it is preferable that the use frequency ofthe setting item is not reflected in the setting screen for each user,but the display control of the setting item is performed in which theuse frequency of the setting item in the whole department is reflected.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a new registrationprocessing of a setting item in the display control apparatus accordingto the embodiment.

Based on the information acquired at the item information acquisitionstep, the setting content determination unit 117 determines whethersetting has been performed with respect to a setting item other than thesetting items to be displayed on the setting screen (setting contentdetermination step) (S201).

In the case where it is determined at the setting content determinationstep that the setting has been performed with respect to the settingitem other than the setting items to be displayed on the setting screen,the input request unit 118 requests an operation input as to whether ornot the other setting item is to be displayed on the setting screen(input request step) (S202).

The operation input unit 11 b receives the operation input of the user(operation input step) (S203).

In the case where the operation input that the other setting item is tobe displayed on the setting screen is received at the operation inputstep, the display object management unit 114 causes the other settingitem to become the setting item to be displayed on the setting screen(display object management step) (S204).

The respective steps of the processing in the display control apparatusare realized by causing the CPU 801 to execute a display control programstored in the MEMORY 802.

In the embodiment, although the description has been made on the casewhere the function to carry out the invention is previously recorded inthe inside of the apparatus, no limitation is made to this, and the samefunction may be downloaded from a network to the apparatus, or a recordmedium recording the same function may be installed in the apparatus. Asthe record medium, any form may be used as long as the record medium,such as a CD-ROM, can store the program and can be read by theapparatus. Besides, the function previously obtained by the installationor download may realize the function in cooperation with an OS(Operating System) inside the apparatus.

Incidentally, in the embodiment, although the example has been describedin which the processing concerning the display control of the respectivesetting items on the setting screen is performed on the PC 11, theprocessing can be performed on the image processing apparatus 21. Thatis, the structure may be made such that the image processing apparatus21 has the functions equivalent to the selection function determinationunit 111, the item information acquisition unit 112, the control unit113, the display object management unit 114, the frequency informationacquisition unit 115, the display setting information acquisition unit116, the setting content determination unit 117, the input request unit118, the identification information acquisition unit 119, the display 11a, the operation input unit 11 b, the CPU 801 and the MEMORY 802.

Besides, in the embodiment, although the example has been described inwhich the addition registration of the setting item as the displayobject is mainly performed by the mouse operation, no limitation is madeto this, and it is needless to say that the addition registration can berealized by an operation input using a keyboard or a touch panel.

In the embodiment, there is provided the setting screen which includesonly setting items frequently used by each user, has no tab structureand can list all functions on one screen, and this can contribute to animprovement in visibility and workability. By this, even with respect toa special setting item, the setting operation can be performedefficiently to the same degree as the function frequently used.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect to thespecific embodiment, it would be apparent for one of ordinary skill inthe art that various modifications and improvements can be made withoutdeparting from the sprit and scope of the invention.

As described in detail, according to the invention, the technique tocontribute to the improvement in convenience of the setting screen forperforming the setting for the function capable of being executed by theimage processing apparatus can be provided.

1. A display control apparatus for causing a plurality of settingscreens to be selectively displayed, which are respectively forperforming settings for a plurality of functions capable of beingexecuted by an image processing apparatus and on each of which aplurality of setting items for each of the functions can be displayed,the display control apparatus comprising: a processor configured toexecute: a display control unit configured to display a first settingscreen on which at least one pre-set setting item is displayed asdisplay objects for any one of the plurality of functions and to displaya second setting screen in which setting items can be registered asdisplay objects for the same function as the function of the firstsetting screen; an operation input acquisition unit configured toacquire an operation input for selecting at least one of the settingitems displayed on the first setting screen and moving selected settingitem onto desired place in the second setting screen to registerselected setting item in the second setting screen as a display object;a storage control unit configured to cause a predetermined storage areato store the setting item moved onto the second setting screen inassociation with the second setting screen.
 2. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the operation input acquired by the operation inputacquisition unit is drag-and-drop operation.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the display control unit configured to display asetting item which can be registered in the second setting screen sothat the setting item which can be registered in the second settingscreen is visually distinguish from a setting item which can not beregistered in the second setting screen.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: an identification information acquisitionunit configured to acquire identification information to specify a userwho performs a registering operation on the second setting screen,wherein the storage control unit configured to cause the predeterminedstorage area to store the identification information in association withthe second setting screen and the setting items registered in the secondsetting screen.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a function identifying information acquisition unitconfigured to acquire function identifying information to specify thefunction of the second setting screen, wherein the storage control unitconfigured to cause the predetermined storage area to store the functionidentifying information in association with the second setting screenand the setting items registered in the second setting screen.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display settinginformation acquisition unit configured to acquire display settinginformation to specify whether a display position of the setting itemregistered in the second setting screen is fixed; wherein the storagecontrol unit configured to cause the predetermined storage area to storethe display setting information in association with the second settingscreen and the setting items registered in the second setting screen. 7.A display control method for causing a plurality of setting screens tobe selectively displayed, which are respectively for performing settingsfor a plurality of functions capable of being executed by an imageprocessing apparatus and on each of which a plurality of setting itemsfor each of the functions can be displayed, the display control methodcomprising: a processor configured to execute: displaying a firstsetting screen on which at least one pre-set setting item is displayedas display objects for any one of the plurality of functions and todisplay a second setting screen in which setting items can be registeredas display objects for the same function as the function of the firstsetting screen; acquiring an operation input for selecting at least oneof the setting items displayed on the first setting screen and movingselected setting item onto desired place in the second setting screen toregister selected setting item in the second setting screen as a displayobject; causing a predetermined storage area to store the setting itemmoved onto the second setting screen in association with the secondsetting screen.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein acquired theoperation input comprises a drag-and-drop operation.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein displaying a setting item which can beregistered in the second setting screen so that the setting item whichcan be registered in the second setting screen is visually distinguishfrom a setting item which can not be registered in the second settingscreen.
 10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:acquiring identification information to specify a user who performs aregistering operation on the second setting screen, wherein causing thepredetermined storage area to store the identification information inassociation with the second setting screen and the setting itemsregistered in the second setting screen.
 11. The method according toclaim 7, further comprising: acquiring function identifying informationto specify the function of the second setting screen, wherein causingthe predetermined storage area to store the function identifyinginformation in association with the second setting screen and thesetting items registered in the second setting screen.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising: acquiring display settinginformation to specify whether a display position of the setting itemregistered in the second setting screen is fixed; wherein cause thepredetermined storage area to store the display setting information inassociation with the second setting screen and the setting itemsregistered in the second setting screen.
 13. A computer-readable storagemedium storing a display control program for causing a plurality ofsetting screens to be selectively displayed, which are respectively forperforming settings for a plurality of functions capable of beingexecuted by an image processing apparatus and on each of which aplurality of setting items for each of the functions can be displayed,the display control program causing the computer to execute: a displaycontrol act of displaying a first setting screen on which at least onepre-set setting item is displayed as display objects for any one of theplurality of functions and to display a second setting screen in whichsetting items can be registered as display objects for the same functionas the function of the first setting screen; an operation inputacquisition act of acquiring an operation input for selecting at leastone of the setting items displayed on the first setting screen andmoving selected setting item onto desired place in the second settingscreen to register selected setting item in the second setting screen asa display object; a storage control act of causing a predeterminedstorage area to store the setting item moved onto the second settingscreen in association with the second setting screen.
 14. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein theoperation input acquired by the operation input acquisition act is adrag-and-drop operation.
 15. The computer-readable storage mediumaccording to claim 13, wherein the display control act of displaying asetting item which can be registered in the second setting screen sothat the setting item which can be registered in the second settingscreen is visually distinguishable from a setting item which can not beregistered in the second setting screen.
 16. The computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 13, the display control programfurther comprising: an identification information acquisition act ofacquiring identification information to specify a user who performs aregistering operation on the second setting screen, wherein the storagecontrol act of causing the predetermined storage area to store theidentification information in association with the second setting screenand the setting items registered in the second setting screen.
 17. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, the displaycontrol program further comprising: a function identifying informationacquisition act of acquiring function identifying information to specifythe function of the second setting screen, wherein the storage controlact of causing the predetermined storage area to store the functionidentifying information in association with the second setting screenand the setting items registered in the second setting screen.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, the displaycontrol program further comprising: a display setting informationacquisition act of acquiring display setting information to specifywhether a display position of the setting item registered in the secondsetting screen is fixed; wherein the storage control act of causing thepredetermined storage area to store the display setting information inassociation with the second setting screen and the setting itemsregistered in the second setting screen.